Planners continuing look into ordinances

Checklist for master plan will be discussed in June.

The Laketown Township Planning Commission on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Front, from left, Vice Chairperson Jay Cravens and Chairperson Chad Nienhuis. Back, from left, Mark Timmerman, Ray Buursma and Patrick Dietrich.

The Laketown Township Planning Commission is continuing its look at land use and zoning, deciding on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, to examine ordinances from surrounding communities.

Commissioners also agreed to go through a checklist for a five-year review of the township’s 2020 Master Plan.

Master plan

A master plan is a guidebook that explains and outlines the township’s goals for future growth and development. Developed by the planning commission from extensive community input, the plan includes a map showing the desired location of each zone.

Creating the map needs careful consideration regarding infrastructure needs, such as municipal water and sewer, educational and medical facilities, and roads to support the type of uses for each zone. 

The state requires the planning commission to decide whether or not it wants to go through a full review of the master plan after five years. A full review requires legal notifications and hearings.

The commission agreed the master plan as written is adequate and does not need changes so a full review is not needed.

At the Wednesday meeting, commissioners agreed that when all members are present, they will go through a checklist from Michigan State University that was handed out in February. The checklist shows they considered the review.

Ordinances

Commissioners also began discussion about the Planned Unit Developments, Sec. 38-430 through Sec. 38-439, of the zoning code. This section is typically a neighborhood development but could also be a business and industry park.

Michelle Sall, community development director, will get copies of the planned unit development ordinances from Park Township, Grand Haven Charter Township and Spring Lake Township for the commission to discuss at the June 4 meeting.

The commission meets at 7 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

Every meeting has a time for public comment. You can also call Michelle Sall, community development director, at (616) 335-3050.

Other business

In other business, the commission:

  • Unanimously approved a special land use request from Robert Bos, 4077 65th St., for an accessory building in excess of the height and square footage limitations.
  • Unanimously approved a site plan review for Rockford MacInnes, 6664 142nd Ave. for a single-family home in the Sand Dune Development area.